Body member support for x-ray examination



July 28, 1970 J. P. SMITH BODY MEMBER SUPPORT FOR X-RAY EXAMINATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 29, 1967 July 28, 1970 J. P. SMITH BODY MEMBER SUPPORT FOR X-RAY EXAMINATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1967 \Ird United States Patent US. Cl. 269-328 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An arrangement for supporting a human body member in a variety of different positions to facilitate X-ray examination of the body member comprising a primary support and a secondary support having a body member supporting surface normal to the plane of the primary support. A securing assembly is connected to the secondary support for fastening a body member against the supporting surface thereof. A pivotal connection between the primary and secondary supports is provided for connecting the supports together so that the secondary support is movable relative to the primary support about an axis normal to the plane of the primary support to thereby locate a body member secured against the supporting surface of the secondary support in a variety of different positions relative to the primary support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a support arrangement, and more particularly to an arrangement for supporting a human body member in a variety of different positions to facilitate X-ray examination of the body member.

Orthopedists warn that many ankle injuries are not simple sprains and instead involve lateral ligament rupture or torn ligaments. Undetected, such injuries often cause chronic ankle instability. Since ligaments are not detected by routine ankle X-ray examination other techniques must be utilized. One of these techniques involves X-ray examination of the injured ankle through inversion and eversion of the ankle. By inverting the ankle, if the ligaments are torn, the talus of the ankle will tilt and the joint space will separate. On the other hand, in the case of a normal ankle with lateral ligaments intact, the talus remains normally seated within the ankle joint. The results of such X-ray pictures enable physicians to treat ankle injuries more accurately. Comparison of an ankle injury in inverted and everted positions also assists the physician in diagnosing the injury and prescribing treatment. Moreover, comparison studies of both ankles can be carried out if a further question of torn ligaments exists. In many instances a physician or X-ray technician is required to support the ankle in the desired positions during the X-ray examination. This practice requires that the physician or technician be in the X-ray room during the examination where he or she is exposed unnecessarily to the X-rays.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention, to provide an arrangement for supporting a human body member in a variety of different positions to facilitate X-ray examination of the body member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention an arrangement is provided for supporting a human body member in a variety of different positions to facilitate X-ray examination of the body member. The arrangement comprises a primary support and a secondary support having a body member supporting surface normal to the plane of the primary support. A securing assembly is connected to the secondary support for fastening a body member against the supporting surface thereof. A pivotal connection between the primary and secondary supports connects the supports together so that the secondary support pivots or swivels relative to the primary support about an axis normal to the plane of the primary support. Thus, a body member secured against the supporting surface of the secondary support is located in a variety of different positions relative to the primary support.

The securing assembly includes a pair of adjustable clamping blocks connected to the secondary support for movement toward and away from each other in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the primary support. Additionally, the securing assembly may also include a flexible tie slidably connected to the secondary support for movement toward and away from the primary support.

The pivotal connection may take the form of an arcuate slot in the primary support and a plurality of roller elements connected to the secondary support that extend into the slot for guiding movement of the secondary support relative to the primary support about an axis normal to the primary support. Moreover, a releasable locking assembly can be connected between the primary and secondary supports for releasably looking the supports together.

The present invention also involves a primary support including a film receiving compartment disposed adjacent the body member supporting surface of the secondary support. Selected portions of the film receiving compartment may be shielded with shielding material to facilitate multiple exposure of a single sheet of X-ray film by manipulating the film to shield the exposed portions thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE D-RAVVING Novel features and advantages of the present invention in addition to those mentioned above will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support arrangement according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the support arrangement shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the support arrangement shown in FIG. 1; v

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the support arrangement shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan View of the support arrangement shown in FIG. 1 with the components in a different position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 3 with portions broken away to show detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring in more particularity to the drawing, an arrangement 10 is provided for supporting a human body member, such as a foot 12, in a variety of different positions to facilitate X-ray examination of the ankle 13. The arrangement comprises a primary support 14 with a top plate 16 constructed of plastic material, such as Lucite, for example. Materials other than Lucite are also suitable, the only criterion being that the X-rays from a machine, such as 18, penetrate the material with no adverse eifect on the sharpness of detail on a sheet of X-ray film 20 disposed in a film receiving compartment 22 lo- 3 cated in the primary support 14 directly below the top plate 16 thereof.

A secondary support 24 is pivoted to the primary support 14 in a manner explained more fully below. The secondary support includes a body member supporting surface 26 disposed normal to the plane of the primary support, and a securing assembly 28 is connected to the secondary support for fastening the body member 12 against the supporting surface 26.

The securing assembly 28 includes a pair of adjustable clamping blocks 30 connected to the secondary support 24 for movement toward and away from each other in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the primary support 14. Each clamping block 36 is connected to an L-shaped element 32 one leg of which extends into the interior of the secondary support. As best illustrated in FIG. 8, each L shaped element is pivotally connected to an upstanding actuating bar 34 disposed inside the secondary support 24. The actuating bar is pivoted to the secondary support at 36 which pivot point is midway between the connections of the L-shaped elements 32 to the actuating bar. The upper end of the actuating bar carries a threaded shaft 38 that extends through an arcuate slot 40 in the back of the secondary support 24. A knob 42 is connected to the threaded shaft and movement of the knob to the right or left, as viewed in FIG. 8, causes the L-shaped elements 32 connected to the upstanding actuating bar 34 to move the clamping blocks 30 toward and away from each other. Clockwise rotation of the knob 42 on the threaded shaft 38 also clamps the actuating bar 34 to the secondary support 24 to thereby hold the clamping blocks in any desired position. Reverse rotation of the knob releases the actuating bar for movement so that the clamping blocks can be moved to another position.

The securing assembly 28 also includes a flexible tie 44 adjustably connected to the secondary support 24. In this regard, guide structure 46 is fastened to the sides 48 of the secondary support and a pair of slides 50 are connected to the flexible tie and the guide structure 46. As can readily be understood, the slides 50 are free to move along the guide structure 46 to thereby position the flexible tie 44 at various distances away from the primary support 14. The flexible tie can take the form of a strap with different forms of fastening elements for securing the strap in place around the body member. One of the many suitable materials for constructing the tie is Velcro.

The secondary support 24 is secured to the primary support 14 by a pivotal connection comprising an arcuate slot 52 in the top plate 16 of the primary support and a pair of roller elements 54 connected to the secondary support that extend into the arcuate slot. The rollers are free to travel in the arcuate slot thereby causing the secondary support to pivot about an axis normal to the plane of the primary support which axis is located in the vicinity of the ankle 13. Calibrations are printed adjacent the arcuate slot 52 to facilitate accurate positioning of the secondary support relative to the primary support. A handle 56 is connected to the secondary support near the pivotal connection for moving the secondary support relative to the primary support, as explained below.

A releasable locking assembly is also located in the vicinity of the pivotal connection for locking the secondary support to the primary support at any desired position. In this regard, an elongate member 60 is slidably connected to the secondary support 24. The member extends away from the secondary support into the arcuate slot 52 in the top plate 16 of the primary support. The lower end 62 of the elongate member is somewhat larger than the width of the arcuate slot 52 and this end supports a friction washer 64 against the portions of the top plate 16 adjacent the arcuate slot 52. The elongate member 60 is biased upwardly, as viewed in FIG. 6, by a coil spring 66 which reacts between the upper end 68 of the member and an inverted cup-shaped element 70 seated on the secondary support 24.

An actuator is pivotally connected to the handle 56 for moving the elongate member in a downward direction, as viewed in FIG. 6, to thereby release the Washer 64 from frictional engagement with the top plate 16 of the primary support. Movement of the actuator 72 in an upward direction causes a machine screw 74 connected to the actuator to move a lever arm 76 in an upward direction. The lever arm '76 is connected to the elongate member and pivots about a shaft 78 that connects the actuator 76 to the handle 56. Accordingly, when the actuator is raised the right-hand side of the lever arm, as viewed in FIG. 6, moves in an upward direction while the left-hand side of the arm moves in a downward direction carrying with it the elongate member 60.

As explained above, the primary support 14 has a film receiving compartment 22 adjacent the body member supporting surface 26 of the secondary support 24. The film receiving compartment is dimensioned to receive a tray 80 upon which the X-ray film 20 is supported. As shown in the drawing, selected portions of the underside of the top plate 16 of the primary support 14 can be shielded with shielding material, such as lead, for example. In this regard, the end thirds 82, 84 of the underside of the top plate 16 defining the compartment 22 are shielded with lead so that an unshielded third 86 is located in the middle of the film receiving compartment. Accordingly, the film 20 can be inserted into the film receiving compartment 22 so that one-half is directly below the unshielded portion 86 while the other half of the film is shielded by the shielded portion 82. After the first X-ray is taken, the film is moved further into the compartment 22 so that the exposed portion thereof is shielded by the shielded portion 84 of the top plate while the unexposed half of the film is exposed to the unshielded portion 86.

In operation, X-ray examination of an ankle is accomplished by securing the foot 12 to the body member supporting surface 26 of the secondary support 24. First, the knob 42 is manipulated to move the clamping blocks 30 toward one another and thereby clamp the heel portion of the foot to the secondary support 24, as shown in FIG. 6. The blocks are then locked in place. Next, the flexible tie is fastened around the foot to further anchor it against the body member supporting surface 26 of the secondary support 24. With the foot appropriately secured to the secondary support the operator grasps the handle 56 and moves the actuator 72 in an upward direction. The locking connection between the secondary and primary supports is thereby released and movement of the handle to either side of the primary support causes the secondaiy support to pivot about an axis normal to the primary support. After the foot is appropriately positioned the actuator is released and the coil spring 66 functions to urge the washer into frictional engagement with the top plate 16 of the primary support to thereby lock the primary and secondary supports together. The X-ray film 20 can then be inserted into the compartment 22 and the X-ray pictures taken with the ankle in inverted and everted positions.

What is claimed is:

1. An arrangement for supporting a human body mem her in a variety of different positions to facilitate X-ray examination of the body member comprising a primary support for receiving the body member, a secondary support having a body member supporting surface normal to the plane of the primary support, securing means con nected to the secondary support for fastening a body member directly against the supporting surface thereof, and pivotal connecting means between the primary and secondary supports for connecting the supports together whereby the secondary support is movable relative to the primary support about an axis normal to the plane of the primary support to thereby locate a body member secured against the supporting surface of the secondary support and resting upon the primary support in a variety of different positions.

2. An arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the securing means includes a pair of adjustable clamping blocks connected to the secondary support for movement toward and away from each other in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the primary support.

3. An arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the securing means includes flexible tie means slidably connected to the secondary support for movement toward and away from the primary support.

4. An arrangement as in claim 3 wherein the securing means further includes a pair of adjustable clamping blocks connected to the secondary support for movement toward and away from each other in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the primary support.

5. An arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the pivotal connecting means comprises an arcuate slot in the primary support and a plurality of roller elements connected to the secondary support that extend into the slot for guiding movement of the secondary support relative to the primary support about an axis normal to the primary support.

6. An arrangement as in claim 1 including a releasable locking assembly connected between the primary and secondary supports for releasably locking the supports together.

7. An arrangement as in claim 6, wherein the releasable locking assembly comprises a handle connected to the secondary support for adjusting its position relative to the primary support, together with unlocking means on said handle for simultaneously deactivating the locking assembly and moving the secondary member.

8. An arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the pivotal connecting means is located on the side of the secondary support opposite from the body member supporting surface thereof, and the pivotal connecting means comprises the sole connection between the primahy and secondary supports.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ARCHIE R. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

